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Sunday, September 28, 2008

Movies are a great way to learn about leadership!Here’s CCL’s Clemson Turregano, who has facilitated "leadership at the movies" sessions for years:"I started using movies when I was teaching at West Point and then at the Naval War College," he notes. "Movies, like a case study, offer real-life portrayals of examples of leadership in crisis. Viewers can use these portrayals to discuss the behaviors they would like to emulate or avoid during similar circumstances."

Movie watching is also a great way to model complex ideas for people who are more visual in their learning preference. For instance, Turregano has used the 1957 drama 12 Angry Men to illustrate Jim Collins' ideas in the best-selling book Good to Great, and the classic It's a Wonderful Life to model Robert Greenleaf's ideas of servant leadership.

The key that turns entertainment into a foundation for dialogue and learning, according to Turregano, is purposeful viewing — watching the film with a goal in mind. Give the viewers an assignment to find examples, themes or behaviors that translate to the topic being studied.

"Using purposeful viewing, participants can key into leadership behaviors that are both positive and negative," says Turregano. "They can reflect on their own reactions to those behaviors and whether the behaviors are conducive to good leadership."

During a recent workshop, for example, Turregano featured the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance, the 2000 film about a golfer and his mystical caddy, Bagger Vance, played by Will Smith. "I asked one group in the audience to look at the relationship and how Bagger developed and built on it. Another group was asked to view how Bagger assessed the golfer's ability, while a third group was asked to comment on the golfer's challenges and how Bagger supported him through these challenges. This provided excellent commentary for discussion around themes of coaching and developing others."

Angry 12 men is a classic example of 'i am not sure; why don't we discuss and find out'. None was convinced either way; but finally things turned out so different from the initial perspective. From that time on, I keep asking myself, have I 'discussed' enough or am I taking a decision too soon.

As well as adult movies I have used a number of more humourous kids movies that can also illustrate serious points. For example the moment in Toy Story when Buzz has the utmost belief that he can fly. There are also some great examples of coaching behaviour in Bugs Life.

I have a couple of posts that your readers may be interested in. One has a great example of leadership (not!) from the UK version of The Apprentice.

Dan, Braveheart did not go down so well in the UK, for the reasons Wolfie says.

We tend to get annoyed when Hollywood plays fast and loose with our history.

That said, William Wallace must have had good leadership skills to unite so many disparate factions against the King of England and to command people in his army who were of a higher social rank than he was. That was unusual in the middle-ages.

In his recent films, Mel Gibson was keen to have the dialogue spoken in the languages that would have been used at the time.

If they'd done that with Braveheart, Mel Gibson would have had to learn French!

Thanks for the reminder that with this blog having a global audience, I need to pay attention to cultural and political considerations. I apologize to my U.K. readers if I offended anyone by listing Braveheart as an example of a “great leadership” movie. I just like his “Freedom” speech, as an example of inspiring commitment.Wolfie, Rick –

Thanks for the reminder that with this blog having a global audience, I need to pay attention to cultural and political considerations. I apologize to my U.K. readers if I offended anyone by listing Braveheart as an example of a “great leadership” movie. I just like his “Freedom” speech, as an example of inspiring commitment.

It sort of reminds me of another U.S. movie that didn’t translate so well over in the U.K. – “Free Willy”.

Actually William Wallece is a man can not lead. He forgets and ignores the nobles, he challenges to them. He just says to Robert the Bruce: Unite us. He can be a good commander but not a leader.Second thing is the ambush part. It was obvious that it will be but he ignored that again.He threaten his life. He does not see the whole picture.

These movies are great for teaching leadership/teamwork: October Sky, Stand and Deliver, Crimson Tide, Courage Under Fire, Heartbreak Ridge, We Are Marshall, and Men of Honor. I have used Remember The Titans to have the audience assess inclusion, control, and caring--three dimensions of interpersonal effectiveness. Bill Parker e-mail:bpa1@aol.com

I teach management courses which cover social issues in the workforce and labor relations - one of the best recent movies which is great for covering issues of equality and equal pay and benefits is Made in Dagenham, a film about the fight for pay equality for female machinists in the Ford car plant. It is an engaging film for students, but also provides excellent dramatic presentations of engendered pay struggles in the 50s and 60s and working family roles.

The dvd movie to end all wars is the true story ( and even better) than the very good hollywood bridge on the river kwai. Illustrates leadership in hell on earth and the ability to transform situation and people forLasting impact! I use it among others in College of Engineering at California Baptist University.Dean Donaldson

I've used Invictus in my leadership programmes recently. The scene where Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) meets the Springboks captain, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), for the first time is inspiring. It vividly demonstrates how Mandela moves so easily between "little l" leadership - humility, will, empathy - and "big l" leadership - using success in sport to unite the nation.

In teaching Leadership and the role of a Leader as an advocate for their company, one clip I use is from "Saving Private Ryan". In the scene, they are walking in a field and griping about the mission. They ask the Captain, played by Tom Hanks, why he doesn't gripe. he tells them he doesn't gripe to them or in front of them, his gripes go up.

Private Ryan- has good examples of leadership - Sometimes the mission is FUBAR and you carry out the order anyway. The troops respected the lead character Tom Hanks role despite the circumstances and even as he is dying (spoiler alert) he said something very wise that the Private never forgot his entire life. I also really liked how the lead seargant and the officer did not complain in front of the others they could vent to each other but didn't spread negativity among the troops

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